US imports of all sawn hardwood fell 31% between October and November 2015. October import volumes were very high at over 100,000 cu.m but in November fell back to 72,063 cu.m. This month on month drop was mainly in temperate hardwoods but tropical hardwood imports also declined by 16% to 18,023 cu.m. However, Year-to-date tropical imports were 11% higher than in November 2014.
While overall imports of tropical timbers declined in November ipe sawnwood imports were up 3% to 1,413 cu.m.
Year-to-date imports of sapelli, mahogany, acajou d’Afrique and keruing were significantly up despite a month-over-month decline in November. Balsa was the only major species for which a year-to-date decline in imports was registered. Ipe imports dropped 5%) compared to the same time last year.
As reported from Brazil, US imports of Brazilian hardwoods have increased and were up 45% in November compared to the previous month. The growth was mainly in jatoba, and virola.
Tropical sawnwood imports from most other suppliers were down in November. Malaysian shipments to the US fell by almost half, but year-to-date imports remain higher than last year.
The US imported 1,039 cu.m. of keruing sawnwood in November. Ecuador, Peru, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire exported less sawnwood as of November 2015 compared to a year earlier.
Main species of tropical sawn hardwood imported into the US
| January-November 2015 | % Change year on year | |
| Africa | ||
| Sapelli | 38,882 | 11% |
| Acajou d'Afrique | 23,644 | 24% |
| Iroko | 682 | 95% |
| Padauk | 551 | 1% |
| Aningre | 569 | 135% |
| SE Asia | ||
| Keruing | 20,930 | 19% |
| Meranti | 9,077 | 17% |
| Teak | 6,108 | 29% |
| Latin America | ||
| Balsa | 48,131 | -5% |
| Ipe | 29,983 | 16% |
| Mahogany | 18,951 | 23% |
| Virola | 9,207 | -13% |
| Cedro | 8,219 | -12% |
| Jatoba | 3,581 | 26% |
Data source: US Department of Commerce, US Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics
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